Holhoek

Location:Take the road to a little town in the Eastern Free State, called Paul Roux. From there you turn east and follow a gravel road for 17 km. Do not complain, open your heart and let the untouched beauty flow through you and just continue until you reach an unusual gate with a round hole in the stone wall HOLHOEK. Approximately 310 km from Johannesburg and 230 km from Bloemfontein.

Accommodation:The base camp consists of 2 thatch roof huts and dubble story house, next to a dam - with electricity and accommodates up to 24 and 32 hikers (18 hikers on upper floor, 14 hikers on ground floor). There is 1 x electrical plug point in each, 12 bed rondawel and more in big rondawel. Equipped with beds and mattresses. The ablution facilities houses flush toilets and showers with hot water (electric geyser). The lapa with braai facilities has a kitchen with 2 x fridges, deepfreeze, hot plate, 2 pots, 1 pan and kettle.

Route Description:It is a figure 8 trail (day one is 13 km and day two 7 km ), developed and built by Tiaan Strydom of Discovery Trails. Both nights are spent in the same base camp. The farm has a very rich archaeological heritage and is therefore very special and unique. Let the bare rocks of the mountains touch your most inner self. Trees in all shades of green or touching autumn colours, mountain streams and ducks on the pond, will speak a language that no one else will understand. One of the 5 caves that are visited on the route is located near a stream and is rich in Bushman rock paintings. The second cave was inhabited at some stage by Iron Age farmers, probably Sotho-speaking people. There are two huts, built against the back wall under the low overhang of the roof, which are close on 200 years old. The next cave is close to the above and is semicircular with a spectacular waterfall and pool at its center. On the second day the cave where the mother of old president PW Botha took shelter during the war is visited. The ruins of several rectangular houses are still visible above the farmhouse, on the route of the hiking trail and probably date to the first white settlement of the farm. Safe bridges built over mountain streams, breathtaking trails through the valleys and ladders up the mountains will not only be an unforgettable memory but an urgent call to come back to Holhoek Hiking Trail.